When the global pandemic shuttered live events indefinitely, the award-winning supergroup was given something they've never been afforded--time. For the first time in three decades, Newsboys had an uninterrupted season before them to write, record and experiment.
"It really allowed us to immerse ourselves in the studio side of life," Phillips attests. "There's kind of this psyche that goes along with being in the studio, which is totally different than the live situation. It's a whole different head space. So for the first time in our career, we had the opportunity to really immerse ourselves in that. It's crazy because I never thought it would happen."
Coming out of a season of collective loss and disappointment, Newsboyssought to craft a record that was the antithesis of 2020. While STAND is their response to the questions raised over the past year, melodically, it's filled with bright sonic textures and arena-ready anthems.
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Album Review: Newsboys - Stand| Posted September 30, 2021 What You Need To Know
After wrapping up their final commitments of their Newsboys United-era, iconic Christian contemporary band the Newsboys seem to be ready to continue the direction they were taking with 2013's Restart and 2016's Love Riot. So, in 2021, the band is back with a new album, Stand, a fun and poppy return to the Michael Tait era of the Newsboys. For those new to the Newsboys, Michael Tait is the band's current lead singer.
What It Sounds Like
It's weird, considering that Restart is closing in on a decade old and Love Riot is over five years old. And yet, these are the most recent albums that seem to be continuing the "standard" albums of the Tait era. Since Tait joined the band, the Newsboys seem to be in a pattern of normal release/worship project cycle. With two to three years between albums, this has created quite a gap from standard project to standard project. United, a multi-year reunion with the band's previous members, shook up the formula. But their 2021 album, Stand, sees the band taking up where they left off with their sound in 2016's Love Riot.
Lead single "Magnetic" displays the best of the Newsboys' upbeat energetic pop/rock and is a strong introduction to this new collection of songs. The title track is the kind of rousing, inspirational anthem the Tait era has also made a huge signature of. Don't be surprised to hear this song in trailers for Christian films in the coming months.
Spiritual Highlights
The Newsboys have long been advocates of standing up for Christ against the world, and that theme cuts through several of the album's cuts, most notably in the title track.
Songs like "Magnetic" and "Ain't It Like Jesus" offer rousing praise to our savior for his work in our lives. "Never Too Far Away" is a song encouraging those who have strayed to return to the arms of a loving God.
Best Song
The title track is probably the strongest cut from this class of Newsboys songs.
For Fans Of
MercyMe, Tait, for King & Country
Final Word
While fans will undoubtedly miss the United era, the Tait era of the Newsboys was always a crowd-pleaser, and Stand sees that era continuing in strong form.
New Music from Newsboys| Posted October 12, 2021
I really enjoyed Newsboys UNITED, featuring former band members Peter Furler and Phil Joel. With Stand, the Newsboys move on with members Michael Tait, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein, and Jody Davis. The ten songs here give you what you exactly what would expect from the band – clean production, relatively short songs (the album clocks in at just 33 minutes), catchy hooks, backing vocals and simplistic, but encouraging lyrics.
Themes on the album include God not giving up on us and always coming through for us, Jesus doing the unexpected, believing God in difficult times, standing for God when trouble comes calling for us, not fearing, the blessings in our lives, and never being too far from a forgiving God.
Here are a few brief comments about each song: Magnetic – This upbeat song was written by Michael Tait, AJ Pruis, Bryan Fowler and Micah Kuiper. It was produced by Kuiper, Pruis and Tedd T. The song features guitar, guitar, drums, bass, percussion, and backing vocals. The song is about how God will never give up on us.
Key lyrics: But every time I'm in that fight Your love keeps pullin' me back, pullin' me back
It's magnetic Ain’t It Like Jesus – This reggae influenced song was written by Michael Tait, Micah Kuiper, Juan Otero, Michael Cochren and Tedd T. It was produced by Tedd T. The song features guitar, bass, horns, backing vocals and drums. The song is about how Jesus will always do the unexpected.
Key lyrics: Ain't it like Jesus To flip the situation?
Ain't it like Jesus?
Zero limitations I Still Believe You’re Good – This song was written by Michael Tait, AJ Pruis, Bryan Fowler and Micah Kuiper. It was produced by Kuiper and Fowler. The song features keys, guitar, bass, drums, and backing vocals. Michael Tait has said that this song is really the whole COVID-19 story wrapped up in melody.
Key lyrics: Even in the valley, I still believe You're good Stand – This anthem was written by Michael Tait, Jeff Sojka and Ben Glover. It was produced by Sojka and Glover. The song features keys, guitar, bass, drums and backing vocals. The song is about who we will be when trouble comes calling for us. This will be a good song for Christian radio.
Key lyrics: I'm gonna stand in a world that's breaking Stand for a truth unchangin'
I'm not ashamed, I've considered the cost
I'll stand right here at the foot of the cross
And stand Clean – This song was written by Michael Tait, Jonathan Smith, Bryan Fowler, Michael Cockren and Tedd T. It was produced by Tedd T and Fowler. The song features percussion, bass, keys, drums, and backing vocals. The song addresses how people perceive us and how we want to be perceived.
Key lyrics: God, You're strong when I am weak I need Your grace to help me to see
That I'm not longer a slave to me
I've been washed, I've been set free Won’t Be Afraid – This anthem about not fearing was written by Michael Tait, Be Calhoun and Tedd T. It was produced by Calhoun and Tedd T. The song features guitar, percussion, bass, keys, backing vocals, drums and a catchy chorus.
Key lyrics: When I walk through the fires of life, I Won't be afraid, no, won't be afraid, no Come Through – This song about God coming through for us written by Michael Tait, Micah Kuiper, Bryan Fowler, Michael Cochren and Tedd T. It was produced by Tedd T and Kuiper. The song references Romans 8:28, and features guitar, bass, drums, keys and backing vocals.
Key lyrics: You always come through You have not forsaken me
You are working all things for my good
Even when I cannot see
I know You always come through
For me Blessings on Blessings – This upbeat song about all of the blessings in our lives was written by Michael Tait, Ethan Hulse and Jeff Pardo. It was produced by Kuiper, Tedd T and Pardo. The song features keys, organ, handclap, guitar, bass drums, backing vocals, and a catchy chorus.
Key lyrics: I've got blessings on blessings Written all over my life
Even when things are goin' wrong
I got so much goin' right
There's a song in my soul
And there's breathe inside o' my lungs
So many things to thank You for
How could I just choose one? No Doubt – This song was written by Michael Tait, AJ Pruis, Micah Kuiper and Bryan Fowler. It was produced by Micah Kuiper. The song is about how Jesus is the only one. The song features guitar, bass, drums and backing vocals.
Key lyrics: There's no doubt You are the only who has never let me down Never Too Far Away – This song was written by Michael Tait, Bryan Fowler, Matt Lott and Dave Stovall. It was produced by Fowler. The song, which builds at the chorus, features keys, percussion, guitar, bass, drums and backing vocals.
The song tells us that no matter what we may have done, we’re never too far away from a forgiving God.
Key lyrics: When everything falls apart You're still in the arms of amazing' grace
You're never too far away Best songs:
Ain’t It Like Jesus
I Still Believe You’re Good
Won’t Be Afraid
Blessings on Blessings
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